What a difference a year makes!

Following Apple's launch of the iPad sixteen months ago, Aysling helped pioneer page design and production automation strategies for Publishers and Corporations passionate about establishing their brand in this emerging market.  Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to tablet publishing, check out this section as we share some of our experiences in Lessons Learned.

An important lesson learned for us is...Anticipate Change!  Change in the way you interact with Readers, Advertisers, Vendors and the internal structure of your organization.  The Tablet segment is just getting started and, as Terri and Don point out in the current issue of IPA Bulletin (page 24-26), Readers and Advertisers are eager to explore Publishers' new creations in this media-rich presentation platform.  And this is where you must begin to anticipate change.

Capturing and retaining new and existing readers requires a change in your approach to design, production, and distribution.  Depending on your current workflow environment, capacity, and strategy, you could face major short and long term changes in staffing, technology and budget, based on your approach and business model.  Overall, anticipate that Apple will continue to set standards for Tablets, but unforeseen changes could include a host of topics ranging from Distribution (Apple and other Tablet App Store changes to subscription requirements); Various Screen/Display Size (How to design, manage and distribute to each?); What technology standards will you need to adopt and integrate into your product cycle?; and the list goes on.

Other lessons include:

1. What’s the difference...Print vs Web vs Tablet?
The tablet platform is unique, and a digital publication app needs to emphasize this uniqueness. A replication of the print or online experience doesn’t do justice to the tablet platform. Create an immersive experience… One finger swipe at a time!

2. Planning is important
Like any print publication, an iPad app needs to have its own "map" for communication and organization. Think of starting with the basic building blocks of a grid. Preliminary discussions should include how the order of the digital content and advertising can enhance the overall theme or concept of the issue and keep readers engaged throughout the app. By mapping out the content in advance into defined and easy to arrange sections, creators of the app can save themselves a lot of extra work (and headaches).

3. The path less traveled…
Start out with a clear path for navigation and movement. Decide what you want to achieve, if it can be implemented, how it will look and how you’ll be able to maintain consistency throughout the app.

4. Design for an impatient finger
Like any bright, new shiny toy, kids (big and little) are eager to get their fingers on everything that’s being offered. Finding the right way to integrate the new interactive features with the design and layout of an app can be challenging. There also has to be the right blend of content mixed with functionality to keep fingers happy as they’re scrolling along specifically looking for the eight major interactive features that include (1) Slide-show; (2) Web elements; (3) HTML5 Widget App; (4) Hot Spots; (5) Scroll Area; (6) Video; (7) Audio; and (8) Dossier Links.

One way to offer some interactivity for the users is to include widgets* in your magazine. A widget is simply a bundle of code or a small program.  Here are four widget examples:

*The defining characteristic of a widget is to provide a single interaction point for the direct manipulation of a given kind of data. In other words, widgets are basic visual building blocks which, combined in an application, hold all the data processed by the application and the available interactions on this data. Source: wikipedia.org

Note on Widget/HTML5: At the moment supported browsers are Safari and Google Chrome as they can render HTML5 correctly.

360 Viewer: With this widget you can create 360 degree images, which is great for product pages. All you need is a zip file containing the images you want to use. If the 360 viewer is added to your magazine, the user simply needs to swipe their finger across the image to rotate the product.  Click here for an example.

Image Reveal: This is a simple widget that allows the user to reveal a second image by “drawing” on the first. Once you start drawing you will erase the top image making the bottom image appear. Click here for an example.

HTML Container: The HTML Container allows you to embed any HTML code onto your page, such as a YouTube video or a web banner.  Click here for an example.

Animation: This is the newest widget made available by WoodWing. It allows you to link an image to a frame and animate it once the page is loaded. Some animations you can perform are fade in and out and move in from right or left. Click here for an example.

5. Don’t forget the “details”
Aim for sophistication and simplicity (the design should have a functional side), but remember the details like typography, color and imagery. Yes, the tablet platform offers fun, new finger-friendly features, but a digital publication app is powered by its design as well.

6. Clear this up, please!
Interactive features are attractive to readers. They can engage the audience and enhance the overall experience and storytelling. The clearer these features are presented, the better it is for users.

7. Seeing is believing
Getting the app off the desktop and onto the device or simulator to review your work can make it easier to see what’s working and what’s not. Preview it often to make sure the design elements and interactivity function properly. 

8. Whoa, this app is huge!
Digital magazine apps have large file sizes. This platform offers a great opportunity to show off more photos (with slideshows for example) than the print versions. Manage the photo size and resolution to make sure the app isn’t bigger than it needs to be. It’s a small thing in general, but can still make a difference.

9. Get Inspired
What are other app designers doing? Get your fingers browsing and discover what’s out there.

10. Don’t be afraid to experiment
Dive right in. Imagine anything and test out everything!

In closing, let us know what you think of our Lessons Learned and feel free to submit your comments or any questions (click here).  In our next newsletter we will continue the Lessons Learned and talk about Efficiency and Distribution.